Self-illuminating display and method for making same

ABSTRACT

A self-illuminating display includes a substrate, and a number of light emitting units. The light emitting units are formed on the substrate in an array fashion. Each of the light emitting units includes a first electrode, a second electrode formed on the substrate and a number of light emitting nanowires. The first electrode includes a number of first arms, and the second electrode includes a number of second arms. Each of the first arms opposes a corresponding second arm. Each of light emitting nanowires interconnects the first arm and the corresponding second arm. Each of the light emitting nanowires has a p-n junction.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to self-illuminating displays and methods for making the same.

2. Description of Related Art

Liquid crystal displays are widely used in various fields. One disadvantage of the liquid crystal display is that the liquid crystal display needs a backlight unit to provide illumination for liquid crystals, which may cause the liquid crystal display to be bulky.

Therefore, a self-illuminating display and a method for making the same, which can overcome the limitations described, is needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a self-illuminating display, according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 to FIG. 6 are schematic views of successive stages of a method for making a self-illuminating display, according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a self-illuminating display, according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 are schematic views of successive stages of a method for making a self-illuminating display, according to a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a self-illuminating display 100, according to a first embodiment, includes a substrate 10, a number of light emitting units 20 and a number of covers 30. The light emitting units 20 are arranged on the substrate 10 in an array fashion.

The substrate 10 is transparent and may be a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate.

In this embodiment, the light emitting units 20 includes three-color light emitting units 21, 22 and 23 for emitting red, green, and blue light, respectively. The light emitting unit 21 (hereinafter the red light emitting unit 21) emits red light, the light emitting unit 22 (hereinafter the green light emitting unit 22) emits green light and the light emitting unit 23 (hereinafter the blue light emitting unit 23) emits blue light. Each light emitting unit includes a first electrode 24, a second electrode 25 and a number of semiconductor light emitting nanowires 26. Combination of the adjacent the red light emitting unit 21, the green light emitting unit 22 and the blue light emitting unit 23 may be serve as a display pixel of the display. Therefore, no additional backlight is needed and the display 100 can be minimized.

The first electrode 24 and the second electrode 25 are transparent and are arranged on the substrate 10. The first electrode 24 opposes the second electrode 25. Each semiconductor light emitting nanowire 26 has a p-n junction and interconnects the first electrode 24 and the second electrode 25. When electrified via the first electrode 24 and the second electrode 25, the light emitting nanowire 26 can emit light. In this embodiment, the nanowire 26 of the red light emitting unit 21 is comprised of GaP, the nanowire 26 of the green light emitting unit 22 is comprised of InGaAlP, and the nanowire 26 of the blue light emitting unit 23 is comprised of GaN. In alternative embodiments, each light emitting unit 20 may include one or two or more light emitting units rather than three light emitting units, depending on a practical usage, and light emitting material of the light emitting nanowire 26 may differ.

In this embodiment, the first electrode 24 includes a first lower sub electrode 242 and a first upper sub electrode 241 formed on the first lower sub electrode 242. The first upper sub electrode 241 includes a number of first upper arms 241 a, and the first lower sub electrode 242 includes a number of first lower arms 242 a. The second electrode 25 includes a second lower sub electrode 252 and a second upper sub electrode 251 formed on the second lower sub electrode 252. The second upper sub electrode 251 includes a number of second upper arms 251 a, and the second lower sub electrode 252 includes a number of second lower arms 252 a. The first upper arm 241 a and the corresponding first lower arm 242 a form a first arm 240, and the second upper arm 251 a and the corresponding second lower arm 252 a form a second arm 250.

One distal end of each light emitting nanowire 26 is sandwiched between the first upper arm 241 a and the first lower arm 242 a, and other distal end of the each light emitting nanowire 26 is sandwiched between the second upper arm 251 a and the second lower arm 252 a. Thus, the light emitting nanowires 26 interconnects the first arm 240 and the corresponding second arm 250, and can be secured on the first electrode 24 and the second electrode 25. In this embodiment, each of the first lower arm 242 a and the second lower arm 252 a includes a pointed distal end (see FIG. 3). A longitudinal direction of the light emitting nanowire 26 is substantially parallel to an imaginary line connecting two end points of the first lower arm 242 a and the second lower arm 252 a.

Each cover 30 is transparent and covers over a corresponding light emitting unit. Material of the cover 30 may be epoxy. It is to be understood that in alternative embodiments, the cover 30 may be mixed with phosphor powder.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, a method for making the self-illuminating display 100, according to a second embodiment, includes steps S100 through S108.

In step S100, a substrate 10 is provided. Material of the substrate 10 may be polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

In step S102, a number of first lower sub electrodes 242 and a number of second lower sub electrodes 252 are formed on predetermined regions of the substrate 10. The first lower sub electrodes 242 and the second lower sub electrodes 252 may be formed using a photolithography process. The first lower sub electrode 242 includes a number of first lower arms 242 a and the second lower sub electrode 252 includes a number of second lower arm 252 a (see FIG. 3). Each of the first lower arm 242 a and the second lower arm 252 a includes a pointed distal end.

In step S104, a number of light emitting nanowires 26 are formed on the first lower arms 242 a and the second lower arms 252 a. A nanowire-containing suspension containing a number of the light emitting nanowires 26 is prepared as follows: the light emitting nanowires 26 can be removed from a substrate where the light emitting nanowires 26 are grown using ultrasonic vibration. Then the light emitting nanowires 26 are collected and added to a solution to form the suspension. Different nanowire materials require different solutions as long as the polarity of the nanowire is the same as that of the solution. Therefore, the method can be adapted for using various nanowire materials to make nanowire-containing light emitting unit.

The nanowire-containing suspension is applied on the first lower sub electrode 242 and the second lower sub electrode 252. The light emitting nanowires 26 are reoriented using a dielectrophoresis method. Therefore, the light emitting nanowires 26 can be aligned on the first lower arm 242 a and the second lower arm 252 a. After volatilization of the solution, the light emitting nanowires 26 are left to connect electrically with the first lower arm 242 a and the second lower arm 252 a. Furthermore, the pointed-distal-end first lower arm 242 a and the pointed-distal-end second lower arm 252 a can enhance alignment of the light emitting nanowires 26.

In step S106, a number of first upper sub electrodes 241 are formed on respective the first lower sub electrodes 242 and a number of second upper sub electrodes 251 are formed on the respective second lower sub electrodes 252. The first upper sub electrode 241 includes a number of first upper arms 241 a. The second upper sub electrode 251 includes a number of second upper arms 251 a. The first upper sub electrode 241 and the first lower sub electrode 242 cooperatively form a first electrode 24. The second upper sub electrode 251 and the second lower sub electrode 252 cooperatively form a second electrode 25. The first upper arm 241 a and the corresponding first lower arm 242 a cooperatively form a first arm 240, the second upper arm 251 a and the corresponding second lower arm 252 a cooperatively form a second arm 250. One distal end of each light emitting nanowire 26 is sandwiched between the first upper arm 241 a and the first lower arm 242 a, and other distal end of the each light emitting nanowire 26 is sandwiched between the second upper arm 251 a and the second lower arm 252 a. Thus, the light emitting nanowires 26 interconnects the first arm 240 and the second arm 250 and can be secured on the first electrode 24 and the second electrode 25.

In step S108, a number of covers 30 are formed on the respective first electrodes 24 and the second electrodes 25. The material of the cover 30 is epoxy. In alternative embodiments, the cover 30 may be mixed with phosphor powder, according to a practical usage.

Referring to FIG. 7, a self-illuminating display 200, according to a third embodiment, includes a substrate 40, a number of light emitting units 50 and a number of covers 60. The light emitting units 50 are arranged on the substrate 40 in an array fashion.

The substrate 40 is transparent and may be a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate.

Each light emitting unit 50 includes three light emitting units 51, 52, and 53. The light emitting unit 51 (hereinafter the red light emitting unit 51) emits red light, the light emitting unit 52 (hereinafter the green light emitting unit 52) emits green light and the light emitting unit 53 (hereinafter the blue light emitting unit 53) emits blue light. Each light emitting unit includes a first electrode 54, a second electrode 55 and a number of semiconductor light emitting nanowires 56.

The first electrode 54 and the second electrode 55 are transparent and are arranged on the substrate 40. The first electrode 54 opposes the second electrode 55. Each semiconductor light emitting nanowire 56 has a p-n junction and interconnects the first electrode 54 and the second electrode 55. When electrified via the first electrode 54 and the second electrode 55, the light emitting nanowire 56 can emit light. In this embodiment, the nanowire 56 of the red light emitting unit 51 is comprised of GaP, the nanowire 56 of the green light emitting unit 52 is comprised of InGaAlP, and the nanowire 56 of the blue light emitting unit 53 is comprised of GaN. In alternative embodiments, each light emitting unit 50 may include one or two or more light emitting units rather than three light emitting units, depending on a practical usage, and light emitting material of the light emitting nanowire 56 may differ.

In this embodiment, the first electrode 54 includes a number of first arms 541 a. The second electrode 55 includes a number of second arms 551 a. Two distal ends of each light emitting nanowire 56 are connected to the first arm 541 a and the second arm 551 a, respectively. In this embodiment, each of the first arm 541 a and the second arm 551 a includes a pointed distal end (see FIG. 9). A longitudinal direction of the light emitting nanowire 56 is substantially parallel to an imaginary line connecting two end points of the first arm 541 a and the second arm 551 a.

Each cover 60 is transparent and covers over a corresponding light emitting unit. Material of the cover 60 may be epoxy. In alternative embodiments, the cover 60 may be mixed with phosphor powder.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 11, a method for making the self-illuminating display 200, according to a fourth embodiment, includes steps S200 through S206.

In step S200, a substrate 40 is provided. Material of the substrate 40 may be polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

In step S202, a number of first electrodes 54 and a number of second electrodes 55 are formed on predetermined regions of the substrate 40. The first electrodes 54 and the second electrodes 55 may be formed using a photolithography process. The first electrode 54 includes a number of first arms 541 a and the second electrode 55 includes a number of second arm 551 a. Each of the first arm 541 a opposes a corresponding second arm 551 a. Each of the first arm 541 a and the second arm 551 a includes a pointed distal end.

In step S204, a number of light emitting nanowires 56 are formed on the first electrode 54 and the second electrode 55, each of the light emitting nanowires 56 interconnects the first arms 541 a and the corresponding second arms 551 a. A nanowire-containing suspension containing a number of the light emitting nanowires 56 is prepared as follows: the light emitting nanowires 56 can be removed from a substrate where the light emitting nanowires 56 are grown using ultrasonic vibrating. Then the light emitting nanowires 56 are collected and added to a solution to form the suspension. Different nanowire materials require different solutions as long as the polarity of the nanowire is the same as that of the solution. Therefore, the method can be adapted for using various nanowire materials to make nanowire-containing light emitting unit.

The nanowire-containing suspension is applied on the first electrode 54 and the second electrode 55. The light emitting nanowires 56 are reoriented using a dielectrophoresis method. Therefore, the light emitting nanowires 56 can be aligned on the first arm 541 a and the second arm 551 a. After volatilization of the solution, the light emitting nanowires 56 are left to connect/electrically contacting the first arm 541 a and the second arm 551 a. Further, the pointed-distal-end first arm 541 a and the pointed-distal-end second arm 551 a can enhance alignment of the light emitting nanowires 56.

In step S206, a number of covers 60 are formed on the respective first electrodes 54 and the second electrodes 55. Material of the cover 60 is epoxy. In alternative embodiments, the cover 60 may be mixed with phosphor powder, according to a practical usage.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A self-illuminating display, comprising: a substrate; and a plurality of light emitting units formed on the substrate in an array fashion, each of the light emitting units comprising a first electrode, a second electrode formed on the substrate and a plurality of light emitting nanowires, the first electrode comprising a plurality of first arms, the second electrode comprising a plurality of second arms, each of the first arms opposing a corresponding second arm, each of light emitting nanowires interconnecting the first arm and the corresponding second arm, each of the light emitting nanowires having a p-n junction.
 2. The self-illuminating display of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of covers covering over the corresponding light emitting units.
 3. The self-illuminating display of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises a first lower sub electrode and a first upper sub electrode formed on the first lower sub electrode, the first lower sub electrode comprising a plurality of first lower arms, the first upper sub electrode comprising a plurality of first upper arms, the first lower arm and the corresponding first upper arm cooperatively forming one of the first arms, one distal end of each light emitting nanowire sandwiched between the corresponding first lower arm and first upper arm.
 4. The self-illuminating display of claim 3, wherein the second electrode comprises a second lower sub electrode and a second upper sub electrode formed on the second lower sub electrode, the second lower sub electrode comprising a plurality of second lower arms, the second upper sub electrode comprising a plurality of second upper arms, the second lower arm and the corresponding second upper arm cooperatively forming one of the second arms, other distal end of each light emitting nanowire sandwiched between the corresponding second lower arm and second upper arm.
 5. The self-illuminating display of claim 4, wherein each of the first lower arm and the second lower arm includes a pointed distal end.
 6. The self-illuminating display of claim 5, wherein a longitudinal direction of the light emitting nanowire is substantially parallel to an imaginary line connecting two end points of the first lower arm and the second lower arm.
 7. The self-illuminating display of claim 1, wherein the light emitting units includes red light emitting units, green light emitting units and blue light emitting units.
 8. The self-illuminating display of claim 7, wherein the light emitting nanowires of the red light emitting unit are comprised of GaP, the light emitting nanowires of the green light emitting unit are comprised of InGaAlP, and the light emitting nanowires of the blue light emitting unit are comprised of GaN.
 9. The self-illuminating display of claim 1, wherein two distal ends of each light emitting nanowire are directly formed on the first arm and the second arm, respectively.
 10. A method for making a self-illuminating display, comprising: forming a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes on a substrate, each of the first electrodes comprising a plurality of first arms, each of the second electrodes comprising a plurality of second arms, each of the first arms opposing a corresponding second arm; and forming a plurality of light emitting nanowires on the first electrode and the second electrode, each of the light emitting nanowires interconnecting the first arm and the corresponding second arm.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming a plurality of covers covering over the corresponding light emitting units.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the first arm and the second arm is pointed.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein a longitudinal direction of each light emitting nanowire is substantially parallel to an imaginary line connecting two end points of the first arm and the second arm.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein two distal ends of each light emitting nanowire are directly formed on the first arm and the second arm, respectively.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein forming the light emitting nanowires on the first electrode and the second electrode comprises: applying a nanowire-containing suspension on the first electrode and the second electrode, the nanowire-containing suspension containing a plurality of the light emitting nanowires; and reorienting the light emitting nanowires using a dielectrophoresis method, thereby the light emitting nanowires interconnecting the corresponding first arms and the corresponding second arms.
 16. A method for making a self-illuminating display, comprising: forming a plurality of first lower sub electrodes and a plurality of second lower sub electrodes on a substrate, each of the first lower sub electrodes comprising a plurality of first lower arms, each of the second lower sub electrodes comprising a plurality of second lower arms, each of the first lower arms opposing a corresponding second lower arm; forming a plurality of light emitting nanowires on the first lower sub electrode and the second lower sub electrode, each of the light emitting nanowires interconnecting the first lower arm and the corresponding second lower arm; and forming a plurality of first upper sub electrodes on the respective first lower sub electrodes, and a plurality of second upper sub electrodes on the respective second lower sub electrodes, each of the first upper sub electrodes comprising a plurality of first upper arms, each of the second upper sub electrodes comprising a plurality of second upper arms, each of the first upper arms opposing a corresponding second upper arm, one distal end of each light emitting nanowire sandwiched between the corresponding first lower arm and first upper arm, other distal end of each light emitting nanowire sandwiched between the corresponding second lower arm and second upper arm.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a plurality of covers covering the first lower arm, the first upper arm, the second lower arm, the second upper arm and the light emitting nanowires.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the first lower arm and the second lower arm is pointed.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein a longitudinal direction of the light emitting nanowire is substantially parallel to an imaginary line connecting two end points of the first lower arm and the second lower arm.
 20. The method of claim of claim 16, wherein forming the light emitting nanowires on the first lower sub electrode and the second lower sub electrode comprises: applying a nanowire-containing suspension on the first lower sub electrode and the second lower sub electrode, the nanowire-containing suspension containing a plurality of the light emitting nanowires; and reorienting the light emitting nanowires using a dielectrophoresis method, thereby the light emitting nanowires interconnecting the corresponding first lower arms and the second lower arms. 